RE: Coleman ABS front panel cracked

TomToCamp · Mar 31, 2003, 01:23 PM

TomToCampI Just picked up my front panel from the dealer. I m going to install it myself and add some wood strips on the paneling where the cabinets screw in. All coleman did was screw to 1/4 paneling. The dealer also gave me the rivets to hold lights on.
I will take pictures as I go and post them.
The parts lady told me that they had 30 panels come in for 2002 and newer and this is not a real large dealer.
Tom

kathybrj · Mar 31, 2003, 02:16 PM

TomToCampWe have a small crack in the rear panel and another small one in front, in the panel right under the truck lid.

I called our dealer and let them know about it last week. The service guy said to bring it in Saturday (this past) and they would look it over. Well, lines got crossed and somehow, the service guy actually ordered the panels and they are there as of this afternoon (that s what happens when you end up talking to two or more people int aht department, I guess).

We ll take it back in sometime this week and pick it up on April 12th, the day my sis (gia) is getting her new Cheyanne.

They did warrenty the panels (our purchase date was 2/9/02). I guess it depends on the dealer, if they will be warrentied. Our dealer was great about our cracked counter top, also.

spirit · Mar 31, 2003, 09:41 PM

TomToCamp
I have been going back and forth with Coleman regarding this situation. We found a cracked front panel and the dealer is happy to replace it because I am still under warranty (one year). I am very upset because my concern is for the rear panel whiich does not appear to be cracked but would not suprise me it we find a crack next Spring. The problem would be we are no longer under warranty. I wanted my panel replaced now so this is not a problem later.

I have saved all emails sent to Coleman and returned from Coleman. This would be a recall in the real world, and it is a mystery to me how they get away with this. If anyone is interested I am contacting an attorney for a possible class action law suit. Please continue to post amy cracks with your " 2002" pu s. Coleman claims this is a problem for only a few owners.

Jackie & Ted (South Jersey)
Kateland & Kelly
Winstar 2000
SUNVALLEY 2002

MtnCamper · Mar 31, 2003, 10:01 PM

spirit

QuoteORIGINAL: spirit
If anyone is interested I am contacting an attorney for a possible class action law suit. Please continue to post amy cracks with your " 2002" pu s. Coleman claims this is a problem for only a few owners.

Your panel had a crack in it. You got it replaced. Where is the problem?

Being a 2002, your back panel that is on the camper now, is probably as good as the new one you re getting on the front.

Maybe it is a problem for only a few owners.

TomToCamp · Apr 01, 2003, 08:55 AM

TomToCampWith the drill hole being too small none of the holes in my panel were larger than the screw. All have thread marks in then. My panel was not cracked from the screw out as I first said but right next to it. The real reason way it cracked was because the bed rail track was bent down, bending the aluminum strip that goes across the top of the panel. The piece of 1 x 3 under the top of the panel was all mashed up on each end and at those points the panel was higher than the any other part. I removed the 1 x 3 and lowered the the corners so they are not higher any more and replaced 1 x 3. Also most of the wood strips that coleman put on to screw the inside cabinets to were laying on the bottom. They had duct tape and glue on them, my guess is when they put the screws in they do not predrill and the screws just pushed the strips away.
The new panel has predrilled holes, GREAT! about two of the ten holes line up with the holes in the aluminum strip.

Heres how far I got.
[link=http://community.webshots.com/album/68274463FOmMVJ]ABS Panel Replace [/link]
Tom

spirit · Apr 02, 2003, 08:13 PM

TomToCampGary,

You say it is probally a problem for only a few owners, even if this is the case whati if it was you!!!!!! Yes, I am getting the front panel replaced under warranty but what happens if I find a crack in the rear panel after warranty?

? It is an obvious problem if you can read the posts, nine times out of ten it occurs in the 2002 models, explain that.

Jackie and Ted
Kateland and Kelly
Winstar 2000
SUNVALLEY 2002

TomToCamp · Apr 02, 2003, 09:00 PM

TomToCamp[

]Replacement is done![

]
The job wasn t too bad, and I did fix all the things I didn t like. I put new screwing strips where needed. I also added a 12v cig. socket above front right cabinet. I had to make holes in the ABS panel bigger to line up with the holes in the aluminum strip. Coleman predrilled, but in wrong places.

ABS Panel Replacement
Tom

MtnCamper · Apr 02, 2003, 10:14 PM

spiritNo, My point is the panel you have (that s not cracked) is indeed as good as any replacement you will ever get. If it s not cracked it s good. And you can t go randomly replacing parts because they may fail.

Sure if it was me I would be upset, But likewise I wouldn t expect the other panel to get replaced on an assumption that it might fail. You may get a replacement not even as good as the one you took off. Would you be upset then?

But for every one you read that has cracked, there are hundreds that haven t too. Coleman is fixing your problem, so your need for a lawsuit is non-existant. They are living up to their warranty.

spirit · Apr 03, 2003, 09:21 AM

spiritGary,

spirit · Apr 03, 2003, 09:39 AM

spiritGary,

You are missing my point completely. The fact is I own a pu that is less than a year old and a panel is cracked due to the material or a drill problem which could be debated again and again. We can agree to disagree but the bottom line is if the panel cracks one day after warranty and I am not covered due to a defect, (nothing I as an owner have caused) than we should be covered entirely warranty or no warranty. Coleman roofs were recalled due to a problem of shrinkage and expansion due to the ABS material which is what the front and rear panels are made of. Don t you thinkfrant and rear panels should be covered also??? I certainly would not have purchased this product if I was aware their was a problem. No, I do not expect a product to be replaced if it has not cracked yet, but if it does happen when I open my camper next year I would feel better if I knew it was covered. Coleman is aware of the problem, like I said before, this problem is not caused by the customer so why should I have to pay if it is out of warranty. The proof is in the pudding, this problem is occurring more frequently in the 2002 models.
Look at ABS roofs, not everyone is having this problem but Coleman has fixed this particuar problem by replacing all ABS roofs. I have an ABS roof and have not had this problem so far but rest easy because I know if I do it wil be taken care of if I do have a prolem, this is my request to Coleman. A warrnaty for a year is good but when dealing with ABS materials they are as unpredictable as the weather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jackie and Ted
Kateland and Kelly
Winstar 2000
SUN VALLEY 2002

MtnCamper · Apr 03, 2003, 10:01 AM

spirit

QuoteORIGINAL: spirit

We can agree to disagree but the bottom line is if the panel cracks one day after warranty and I am not covered due to a defect, (nothing I as an owner have caused) than we should be covered entirely warranty or no warranty.

Actually I do agree with you, But until Coleman changes their warranty, there is nothing you can do. They are in fact living up to their promise.

Should I have my roof replaced because it might fail? No, they won t do that, But if it does fail, then they will.

On my last truck the bearings in the differential failed at 50,300 miles. Warranty 50K. Guess what, I had to pay for the repair. Same case here. If your panel is cracked they will fix it. They will not replace a good panel with another good panel. Which leads to my point. The one you have is perhaps as good as, or better than another you may get.

So all you need to do is to convince them to give you a lifetime warranty on anything that is made from the ABS material.

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